In 1991, the outreach ministry had moved to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish on the west side of San Bernardino. With a larger kitchen and dining room, the ministry, now renamed Mary’s Table, was serving 5,000 meals a month.
Further expansion became possible in 1993, when the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word provided a grant that allowed the purchase of the old convent that became the first Veronica Home of Mercy, a long-term transitional facility for women. Soon after, the Casa Merced Re-entry Homes were begun to transition women from Veronica’s Home back to society. In 2009, a new 1,500 square foot Veronica’s Home was opened.
The mission of Mary’s Mercy Center is to reach out to the less fortunate of society; to help people grow and develop into useful, affirmed people in today’s world. The Center operates on three basic principles: first, do not judge; second, see Christ in each person; and, three, serve our guests.
Other services offered by Mary’s Mercy Center include weekly hot meals, a food bag program, showers, free medical screenings, St. Joseph Clothes Closet, a children’s program and an annual Christmas party serving over 1,900 attendees.
The above services are only possible through the generous donation of time by over 300 volunteers. Mary’s Mercy Center is a valuable partner with the governmental and non-profit agencies in the San Bernardino area. The hope for the future is to build a transitional housing complex for men near the current location of Mary’s Mercy Center.